Open in full screen mode Bill 31, which reduced the scope of the assignment of lease, received attention during this meeting organized by Québec solidaire. (Archive photo) The Canadian Press More than 300 people attended a free information meeting on tenants' rights, organized by Montreal MPs from Québec solidaire (QS) in a church basement on Laurier Street, in Montreal, with Manuel Johnson, a lawyer specializing in housing law. For the parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire (QS), Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, the fact that there were so many people present on a sunny Sunday is a sign that things are going badly in terms of housing. The objective of this meeting was to raise awareness of the rights of Montreal tenants, an important first step, according to Mr. Nadeau-Dubois. The rights we have, they become real just when we have the real capacity to defend them, and the first step to defend them is to know them, he affirmed while mentioning that the QS offices are inundated with calls for help on this matter. What happens in Montreal, too often, is “David versus Goliath” situations, tenants who do what they can but who too often face big speculators armed with very powerful lawyers. A quote from Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire Also present, solidaire MP Andrés Fontecilla reiterated the intention to create a rent register which would allow you to consult the prices of housing that a person wishes to rent. Loading ELSEWHERE ON INFO: Follow the 25th Les Olivier GalaLoading
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Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois wants Montreal tenants to be better informed of their rights.
Mr. Johnson made a summary presentation on housing law during which he described the current rental market as unbalanced. It’s always the owners who have the big end of the stick, he said. According to him, only a handful of lawyers specializing in housing law work in Montreal, and they are all overwhelmed.
He affirmed that the right to stay in place constitutes the cornerstone of the right to housing, that is to say that a person can stay in their home as long as she wants it, with certain exceptions.
He added that he sees more and more cases of speculative maneuvers. When people have been there for a long time and pay low rent […], the landlord has every interest in throwing these tenants out and re-renting the accommodation at double or even triple the price, if ;is he sorry.
Lawyer Manuel Johnson (File photo)
< p class="StyledBodyHtmlParagraph-sc-48221190-4 hnvfyV">This is how they make their speculative maneuvers. They will buy a building, throw out as many people as possible, double the rents, borrow money on the new value of the building, buy another building and start the cycle again.
He warned those present at the meeting, of all ages, against landlords who suggest their tenants leave while they are carrying out work, by having them sign an agreement with compensation. often insufficient.
He recalled that the obligations of owners at that time are much more important.
Go see a lawyer if necessary and if you can find one. Don’t fall for it and [sign] an agreement like that.
A quote from Manuel Johnson, lawyer specializing in housing law
The first questions from the public mainly focused on questions surrounding a lease assignment, the scope of which was reduced by Bill 31, and abusive rent increases.
Former spokesperson for Québec solidaire, Françoise David , was present at the meeting and spoke to the media before the session.
She was delighted that the Legault government intended to soon include the project on the agenda Bill 198 of QS, which would expand the scope of the Françoise David law, adopted in 2016, to better protect seniors from evictions.
Former Québec Solidaire MP Françoise David (Archive photo)
It is not a panacea. That doesn't solve all the problems. But for older tenants – and it’s mainly women we’re talking about – it would provide one more tool to defend themselves against evictions.
A quote from Françoise David, former spokesperson for Québec solidaire
The objective is to broaden the criteria in order to include in particular people aged 65 and over who have lived in their home for at least least five years. Currently, only seniors over the age of 70, who have a very low income and who have lived in their home for more than ten years are protected by the law.
Ms. David said she was rather angry when Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau refused the amendments presented by QS when Bill 31 was tabled.
She hopes this bill will pass. I'm going to be there to make sure we get to the end of the process, she said.